The Nation - News from Nov. 1, 1988

The pilot of Delta Air Lines Flight 1141, which crashed on takeoff near Dallas last August, told investigators he thought he could fly his Boeing 727 out of trouble but said he should have applied full power much sooner, according to government documents. Fourteen people died in the crash. Documents released by the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that Capt. Larry Lon Davis, 49, did not apply full engine power for about 22 seconds after he heard an unusual “snap” noise and nearly 20 seconds after the stall warning system began to activate. The report also indicated that the pilots violated federal regulations and chatted with a flight attendant for 13 minutes just before takeoff. Regulations forbid a flight attendant from being in the cockpit at the time.